What is a One New Man Congregation?
What is a One New Man Congregation?
by Messianic Rabbi Eric Carlson
What is a “One New Man” Messianic Congregation? It is a congregation that is bearing fruit which are Jewish people receiving Yeshua (Jesus). A common thread that weaves through and connects “One New Man” Congregations and Jewish evangelism is the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom” I Corinthians 1:22. Signs and Miracles only come through the Holy Spirit and revelation of the word also comes through the Holy Spirit! The KEY ingredient is the Holy Spirit! Those who are led of the Spirit produce the fruit of the Spirit which are souls for the kingdom. Strict religious adherence to tradition negates the move of the Spirit thereby killing the ability of a congregation to attract non-believing Jews and Gentiles alike.
There is a common misconception that prevails in the greater body that imitating Orthodox or Rabbinic Judaism (which is mostly conceived of by man) will open the door to Orthodox Jews receiving Yeshua. This could not be farther from the truth. The Orthodox community itself states that its most pressing issue is Jewish people apostatizing from Judaism. The answer to this vexing issue is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Life, and where there is life there is the presence of the Lord, and where the presence of the Lord is there are miracles, and where there are miracles there are Jews who are seeking God!
A successful “One New Man” Messianic Congregation teaches and pursues the gifts of the Spirit. Its leaders, staff, and board members are filled with and well versed in the Power of the Holy Spirit. They will operate in unity and Shalom, fluid enough to move when God moves yet powerful and strong enough to blast away the enemies strongholds (remember — a relatively small river named the Colorado River, fluid yet powerful, carved out the might Grand Canyon).
This freedom and power will allow God to move and give His Holy Spirit freedom to minister during your services, on the feast days, and any other time two or more are gathered in His name! The last thing this world needs are more chains of oppression. The Holy Spirit equals chofesh (freedom) in the Kingdom of God. Do you recall what occurred the day the Holy Spirit was given? “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls” Acts 2:41. We need the power of God in our meetings and congregations! We need life! “He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT).
God’s Glory and power are poured out on those who worship together, Jew and Gentile, in Truth and in Spirit! In this, the world will believe, as Yeshua states in John 17 that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. Get the Spirit and you’ll get the victory!
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundationk, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Messianic Rabbi Eric Carlson and his wife Rabbitzin Barbara of Newport News Va., have been called to spread the Good News of Messiah Yeshua’s Grace and Glory in the United States and in the countries of the Former Soviet Union (having performed Gods work in Hungary, Russia, and the Ukraine).
Active in Aliyah, the world wide exodus of the Children of Israel back to Israel as prophesied in the Bible, Zion’s Sake has sponsored the return home of over 2,269 Jewish people from Russian and the Ukraine. Through a prophetic vision from God, they were called to spread the “Good News’ of the Jewish Messiah according to the Law of Evangelism; To the Jew First. To provoke the Jewish people to jealousy. To reach the lost and hurting through the Love of Messiah and to feed the starving and clothe the naked in Newport News, Virginia, America, and the Nations.
Rabbitzin Barb Carlson Leads the Zion’s Sake dancers, a “One New Man” (Ephesians 2:15) Messianic Jewish Dance Team. They are dedicated to restoring Jewish and Davidic Dance. Many of their dances consist of the “circle dance” which represents unity. It is also traditional Judaic beliefs that demonic forces cannot penetrate a circle. They dance before the Lord, sowing praise and worship unto the God of Israel!